[Bonus chapter] Too Many Words

Mother Estow led me quickly out of the library and straight into the arms of a pacing, sullen Ash who immediately led me through the second set of doors and away as Mother Estow continued down the wide hallway in the other direction to bring in the next woman.

The next woman who was going to sit alone with David in the library, I realized.

That thought made my skin crawl.

He'd tried to warn me—he'd clearly thought about it. Those soft words about how difficult it would be… But I hadn't paid enough attention. Things kept shifting so fast, and the drive to be close to him and taken me by such surprise—

"Are you well?"

Ash's murmured growl interrupted my thoughts. "Yes," I said bluntly, frowning at the carpet ahead of us. How long would it be before I could see him again? Speak to him without witnesses.

Shit.

"Zara, are you certain you're—"